When I think of characers I've seen in play that relate to the 'best swordsmen' category what springs to mind is a tempest fighter/two weapon ranger.
Human means your AC will be a little lower than an optimised Half Orc, but maybe the extra at will, feat and +1 to NADs make up for that. If you're making the characters and giving them artifacts, then you could just house rule a +2 racial bonus to DEX as well...
They are incredibly accurate and they are very capable even with just a short sword.
You'd take Twin Strike for single target double attacks and extra Prey damage.
You'd have Dual Strike for double target attacks, doble marking which then sets you up to use your Combat Challenge on anyone that shifts (putting ranged attackers in a catch 22 situation which basically equates to: no matter what you do, on your turn unless you stand real still, I'm going to hit you again!) Plus Midnight Blade feat means it attacks REF!!!!!!
So you're going to want static bonuses to you attacks.
Then your third at will to your taste. I chose Throw and Stab.
Encounter Power lvl 1: Off hand Strike
Ranger attack minor action. Best Combo with fighter power so you can do prey damage and mark. Besides, attacking 3 times in a round before you unload your action point is awesome!
Encounter power Lvl 3: Rain of Blows
Fighter attack. so 3 attacks in one standard action. Imagine when you combine this with Off hand strike....
Lvl 7 Opportunists rend: Twin Strike on Steroids, and you can do it on a charge or instead of a MBA... so when you use your Combat Challenge...
Multiclass Feat: Avenger (Disciple of Divine Wrath, the one that requires 13 WIS, which is what you'll have) Ok... so you train religion... never mind. You get to roll 2d20 and keep the highest on your Oath target for two entire rounds... Imagine when you combine this with Off Hand Strike and Rain of Blows... and then Blow an Action Point on Twin Strike!!! That's right, your going to buy more d20's
Check out Pit Fighter: +1/2 level Damage on each attack (except off hand strike)
Dailys Level 1 Skirmisher's Stance (ranger): so if you move 4 you do 1d8 extra damage and gain +2 AC an REF? Well imagine how this combines with your lvl 2 Utility Pass Forward (At will move action which means you can move around one creature without provoking opportunity attacks. So basically you dance around your enemy and smack the heck out of him even harder with absolutely no fear he can retaliate.
Lvl 5 Dervish's Callenge, jeesh things just got crazy!
Lvl 9 Fighters Recovery: wow... you just smacked someone and got rain of blows back????
Level 6 Utilty could easily change. Level 10 utility is pretty awesome, especially if you can move after the first attack of say Twin Strike kills someone and hit another target... your the DM so I guess you decide!
Edit: I forgot to mention Mobile Challenge and Two Weapon Opening... Mobile Challenge is really going to hurt ranged attackers. Imagine they shift away accepting the hit. You hit with Combat Challenge attack and shift next to them. Hi, it's me again. If they attack now you can still attack them as an OA!!! And with Two Weapon Opening and all those multi attack powers and avenger rerolls you are going to crit a lot more than normal... so when you do: EVEN MORE ATTACKS! With Daggermaster this was just crazy business, but that is out now after the errata. Still worth it imo.
Anyway, I'd like to see a better swordsman than that!
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
level 11
Human, Ranger|Fighter, Pit Fighter
Hybrid Ranger: Hybrid Ranger Reflex
Hybrid Talent: Fighter Combat Talent
Fighter Combat Talent: Tempest Technique (Hybrid)
Background: Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 21, Con 12, Dex 19, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 11.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 11, Dex 16, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10.
AC: 27 Fort: 25 Reflex: 25 Will: 21
HP: 84 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 21
TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +9, Acrobatics +15, Stealth +13, Perception +12, Endurance +10, Athletics +14
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +4, Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Dungeoneering +7, Heal +7, History +4, Insight +7, Intimidate +5, Nature +7, Streetwise +5, Thievery +8
FEATS
Human: Disciple of Divine Wrath
Level 1: Hybrid Talent
Level 2: Mobile Challenge
Level 4: Weapon Focus (Light Blade)
Level 6: Midnight Blade Student
Level 8: Weapon Expertise (Light Blade)
Level 10: Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 11: Two-Weapon Opening
POWERS
Hybrid at-will 1: Twin Strike
Hybrid at-will 1: Dual Strike
Hybrid encounter 1: Off-Hand Strike
Hybrid daily 1: Skirmishing Stance
Hybrid utility 2: Pass Forward
Hybrid encounter 3: Rain of Blows
Hybrid daily 5: Dervish's Challenge
Hybrid utility 6: Off-Hand Defense
Hybrid encounter 7: Opportunist's Rend
Hybrid daily 9: Fighter's Recovery
Hybrid utility 10: Resume the Hunt
ITEMS
Magic Hide Armor +3, Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier), Amulet of Protection +3, Magic Short sword +3 (2)
RITUALS
Raise Beast Companion
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